Mountain residents could be stuck for another week
Snowfall and Flood Warnings in the Sierra North Including Five Meters of Snow Over the Mountaineering Mountains from Sacramento to Yosemite
A winter storm warning was in effect into Sunday for the upper elevations of the Sierra from south of Yosemite National Park to north of Lake Tahoe, where as much as 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow is possible atop the mountains, the National Weather Service said in Reno, Nevada.
“It’s not too often that we talk about one to three feet of snow above 4,000 feet, let alone locally five feet,” National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Tardy said in a video update released Tuesday for the San Diego region.
A 70-mile (112-kilometer) stretch of eastbound U.S. Interstate 80 was closed “due to zero visibility” from Colfax, California to the Nevada state line, transportation officials said. Chains were required on much of the rest of I-80 in the mountains from Reno toward Sacramento.
The Forest Service said new snow and high winds in the mountains west of Lake Angora could lead to dangerous cascading of objects.
The National Weather Service says that winds of between 50 and 80 mph will blow on the Sierra ridgetops by early Sunday.
The Bay Area and Grass Valley could get between 2 to 5 inches of rain through the weekend.
The weather service issued a flash flood warning on Saturday when inches of rain fell on burn scars left by wildfires south of Monterey and farther south of Big Sur.
More than 873,000 households in the U.S. were without power as of Friday afternoon, largely in Michigan, California, Illinois and New York, according to utility companies’ reports tracked by PowerOutage.us.
San Francisco Bay Area officials reported power outages and fallen trees, some of which damaged cars and homes. In Monte Rio, a small town along the Russian River, firefighters responded to reports of trees falling into homes, which were in 50 mph wind gusts.
The Chief of the Monte Rio Fire Department said that no one was injured when the down trees damaged the houses.
“This is our first big storm, we’ve had several years of drought and all these trees were dry. “They’re starting to topple over because they’re filling up with water.”
Between 20 to 40 inches of snow fell over three days at Big Bear Lake in Southern California, according to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration. The agency reported that many vehicles were stuck on the roads on Friday.
Heavy snow has blanketed a large portion of the Lower Mississippi River Valley with the same storm system moving east Tuesday through the Upper Mississippi River valley
The same storm system is moving east and is expected to cause a significant damaging wind event on Sunday. A large swath of the country is at risk of severe storms on Sunday, from western Texas to St. Louis.
The threat does, however, strengthen as the system heads east Tuesday, likely impacting a large swath of the Lower Mississippi River Valley. In Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi, there could be tornadoes, high wind gusts and damaging hail.
Heavy snow walloped a swath of northern states this week, impacting Wisconsin, Michigan and South Dakota. In the Northeast, central and upstate New York and Vermont had between 6 and 12 inches of snow.
“The snowpack is about 225% of normal, so it’s more than twice what we’d be expecting this time in December,” said Mark Deutschendorf, forecaster at the National Weather Service office in Reno.
It’s a lot like Christmas out here. It stuck to everything because it didn’t come with a lot of wind. It’s like a picture postcard.”
While he noted the snow totals so far are impressive, Deutschendorf said he is “cautiously optimistic” about this precipitation putting a big dent in the state’s drought.
Snowfalls and Flood Watches in Olympic Valley, California, and the Four Corners, South Coast, following a Dec. 1 Dec. 20 Santa Fe Superstorm
The ski resort in Olympic Valley, California wrote on its website that they are Buried.
This is definitely one of the more significant storms that I have experienced. We’ve now received 7.5 feet of snow since December 1st. Plus, in just 24 hours from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, we received more than 35 inches of snow — the 6th largest snowfall total in 24 hours that we have on record,” resort operators wrote.
About a million households nationwide were without power as of 1 p.m. ET on Thursday. In Michigan, where there have been freezing rain and ice storms, more than a million are without power. That is according to Power Outage.us, which tracks outage state-by-state.
Almost 50 million people in the Northeast are under winter weather watches or warnings as a storm that brought tornadoes, damaging winds and hail to the Central US sweeps into the region.
The area is flooded with an atmospheric river, a long, narrow region of the atmosphere that can carry water thousands of miles and is the location of the deadly winter storm that left many parts of the US in the cold.
Meanwhile, as some Northeast residents get their first taste of snow this season, a new storm system is hitting the West Coast with more snow, high winds, blizzard conditions and unusually cold temperatures – right after another storm dumped thick snow there last week.
The first wave is hitting areas in Southern California and the Four Corners region which includes Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. There will be low elevation precipitation and high elevation snow in the Four Corners area until Thursday.
A flood watch was in effect across much of Northern California through New Year’s Eve. Officials warned that rivers and streams could overflow and urged residents to get sandbags ready.
In the San Francisco Bay area, between FREMONT and SUNol, as well as in the Mendocino National Forest near Piercy, landslides already had closed routes.
Humboldt County, where a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck on Dec. 20, also saw roadways begin to flood, according to the National Weather Service’s Eureka office. A bridge that was temporarily closed last week due to earthquake damage may be closed again if the Eel River, which it crosses, gets too high, officials said.
Highway 70 east of Chico, which was partially closed due to a slide, and the north side of Highway 49, which was closed due to flooding, were reported by the state transportation agency. In El Dorado County, east of Sacramento, a stretch of Highway 50 was closed because of flooding.
Fire officials planned to use a helicopter and a boat to warn people in the American River that they were going to be flooded.
New Year’s Day Outage and Tree Damage Around the Reno River: Sacramento, Calif., State, and Stockton Sheriff’s Depth
“Power outages and areas of tree damage will be possible across these areas [from the Great Lakes into the Northeast], and especially for the locations seeing a combination of stronger winds and accumulating ice,” the National Weather Service predicted.
Minor to moderate flooding was forecast on the rivers and streams around Reno, Nevada, where the Sierra’s eastern front continues into the weekend.
At Susanville, California about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of Reno, the Susan River was forecast to rise from about 5 feet (1.5 meters) Friday to a foot (30 centimeters) above the flood stage of 12 feet (3.6 meters) by Saturday morning, causing moderate flooding that could affect some homes, roads and bridges, the National Weather Service said.
LOS ANGELES — California was drying out and digging out on New Year’s Day after a powerful storm brought drenching rain or heavy snowfall to much of the state, snarling traffic and closing major highways.
“Too many road closings to count at this time,” said the weather agency in Sacramento in an afternoon tweet. Sacramento County urged residents in the unincorporated community of Wilton to evacuate, warning that flooded roadways could “cut off access to leave the area.”
The section of U.S. 101 that goes south of San Francisco was closed because of flooding, according to the California Highway Patrol. The staircase in Oakland turned into a waterfall after a heavy rain, while mud-colored water flowed along San Francisco streets.
The Stockton Police Department posted photos of a flooded railroad underpass and a car that appeared stalled in more than a foot (30 centimeters) of water.
The Sacramento County Emergency Operations Team is Working to Prepare for First Breakout of the California Snow System in the First Day of the New Year’s Floral Parade
The first storms of a week were expected to roll across the state. Saturday’s system was warmer and wetter, while storms this week will be colder, said Hannah Chandler-Cooley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
Dozens of drivers were rescued on New Year’s Eve along Interstate 80 near Lake Tahoe after cars spun out in the snow, the California Department of Transportation said. The route from the San Francisco Bay Area to the mountains reopened early Sunday to passenger vehicles with chains.
The National Weather Service said that the rain in San Francisco was the second-wettest day on record. Videos on Twitter showed mud-colored water streaming along San Francisco streets, and a staircase in Oakland turned into a veritable waterfall by heavy rains.
In Southern California, several people were rescued after floodwaters inundated cars in San Bernardino and Orange counties. No major injuries were reported.
With the region drying out on New Year’s Day and no rainfall expected during Monday’s Rose Parade in Pasadena, spectators began staking out their spots for the annual floral spectacle.
State climatologist Michael Anderson told a news briefing late Saturday that officials were closely monitoring Monday’s incoming storm and another behind it and were keeping an eye on three other systems farther out in the Pacific.
Tardy said that the region is expected to see significant snowfall until Friday night, as well as a possible atmospheric river.
LA county is responsible for maintaining the bottom of the road leading up to Mount Baldy, but isn’t used to removing snow, he said. Concerns were raised about the potential for rain that could set the set snow loose and cause flooding.
The snow operations team is prepared to plow roads, bike trails and sidewalks, according to the assistant city manager. And their first priority is ensuring emergency vehicles can get where they need to go.
Forecasts for Minnesota Airlines and Local Airlines: Predictions of a Jet-Induced Snow Storm from the Great Lakes to Midwestern Flavour
The emerging storm, she said, is “not anything unusual” – and the city anticipates it won’t be the same kind of “non-stop, all hands-on deck situation” they experienced earlier this year.
Lauren Burke said that the mountain has six inches over its average snow depth of 400 inches.
The first two weeks of January alone brought the region 17 feet of snow in just 16 days, which according to Burke, caused road and ski lift closures, along with heaps of snow to be shoveled.
But this February’s storm should be more manageable for the region – even if its summit gets between 15 and 21 inches of snow Friday, as the National Weather Service predicts. The storm should bring a good amount of snow to ski and ride.
Snow is falling at heavy rates of 1-2 inches per hour near the Great Lakes, and combining with 40-50 mph winds. That will drive significant impacts that will include major disruptions to travel, infrastructure, livestock and recreation,” the NWS wrote.
There were a lot of cancellations at airports across the Midwest. On Wednesday, more than 1,600 flights were canceled and an additional 5,200 were delayed. Thursday brought more of the same — more than 1,700 flights were canceled and almost 10,000 delayed as of Thursday morning, according to FlightAware.
Simultaneous record-breaking temperatures and precipitation in Southern California and the Los Angeles Valley, with an emphasis on critical floods and wind damage
Simultaneously, parts of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley are seeing record-setting warmth: The NWS says temperatures on Thursday are forecasted to be as much as 40 degrees above normal.
Atlanta has a record in February of 81 degrees. On Wednesday, New Orleans was 83 degrees, and Washington, D.C. was 78 degrees.
The precipitation came as a rare blizzard warning was in effect for parts of southern California and the Los Angeles region, spawning unfamiliar wintry conditions at higher elevations.
On Friday, forecasters also urged mariners near the coast of the state’s San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties to “seek safe harbor immediately” — warning of severe thunderstorms that could produce sudden waterspouts, powerful enough to “easily overturn boats.” The two counties are also at risk of seeing small tornadoes on land.
The region has been issued a freeze warning for Friday evening and Saturday morning. The sub-freezing conditions will be especially dangerous to unsheltered populations, crops and unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Michigan in particular was hit with freezing rain and ice that disrupted travel and was risky for livestock and infrastructure. Port Austin and Midland had more than 8 inches of snow. The National Weather Service said that southern parts of the state saw a lot of ice.
There is still a chance of more light snow in some parts of southeast Michigan. Friday will be below freezing with temperatures across the state. Forecasters expect the weather to warm up by Sunday.
A rare blizzard warning remains in effect for parts of Southern California – including the Los Angeles region – Saturday as some areas endure heavy snow and record rainfall that has delivered dangerous flooding.
The National Weather Service says the recent severe weather has created new wintry conditions at higher elevations where up to a foot of snow may occur with 80 mph winds.
“Travel could be impossible with near zero visibility at times through early Wednesday morning. Strong winds could cause tree damage and power outages. The National Weather Service office in Reno said that if you risk travel you could become stranded for hours.
A flash flood warning was issued by the weather service on Friday, after some Los Angeles-area roads turned into rivers from bouts of heavy rain.
Saturday’s rain will hit already soaked grounds, exacerbating impacts of possible flooding as the region faces back-to-back storms this week. Much of the state was flooded in late December and early January.
The aftermath of the same weather system that struck California and numerous states spanning the country earlier this week is still affecting hundreds of thousands of people in the Midwest.
Power Outage.us states that nearly 500,000 of Michigan’s homes and businesses were still without electricity on Saturday in the aftermath of the winter storm. Wayne County accounted for the most outages at more than 150,000.
While it is restoring power to some stricken areas, DTE warned that it will not be able to restore service to most customers before Sunday.
State Highway Patrol Observations of Heavy Snow in Minneapolis, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut, with the Minnesota & Connecticut Departments of Emergency Services
The Wyoming highway patrol said on their website that crews were out searching for people stuck in the heavy snow after more than 40 inches fell in the southern part of the state.
Minneapolis declared a one- day snow emergency because of the heavy snow and city crews have been plowing and treating streets. The city received over 13 inches of snow in a three-day period.
In New England there was a large pileup on the Massachusetts Turnpike Thursday night, probably because of icy conditions.
There were dangerous travel conditions in some areas. State Route 33 in the Los Padres National Forest was closed due to rock slides and erosion from previous storms.
The storm pummeling the Northeast will spread further into northern New England Tuesday as cold air locks over the region and 4-8 inches of snow fall, according to the National Weather Service.
Winter weather alerts are in place for Boston – where up to 6 inches could fall – and New York City, which could see the biggest snow event of a nearly snowless season. Central Park, which has only received 0.4 inches of snowfall this year, could see 3-5 inches of snowfall through Tuesday afternoon.
The governor warned residents of hazardous travel conditions due to ice, snow, and wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour.
All of Providence’s public schools were closed on Tuesday due to the Governor’s warnings of a difficult morning commute. Connecticut has also announced that schools in the state will be closed, as the state prepares for a major snowstorm that could bring 10 to 20 inches of snow to the area.
Heavy snow will make it as far east as the Colorado Rockies and as far south as northern Arizona, bringing hazardous travel conditions there Tuesday and Wednesday, the Weather Service says.
An Emergency Emergency Emergency Service Warning for High-Energy Vehicle Traveling in the Golden State from the California Highway Patrol to San Bernardino County
Some California residents remain trapped inside their homes after a winter storm dumped feet of snow across the Golden State, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to issue a state of emergency in 13 counties, including hard-hit San Bernardino County.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been working to bring more snow plows and road crews to the area, and personnel from Cal Fire and the California National Guard are ready to support operations.
A group of students who were supposed to return home last Friday but were stuck at their camps during the storm are among those trapped. California Highway Patrol escorted the children’s buses down the mountain on Monday so they could reunite with their families, according to an Irvine Unified School District spokeswoman.
If you are going to travel to the West Coast by road at altitudes over 1,000 feet, be prepared for changing weather conditions and have winter supplies, warned the National Weather Service.
The weather service in Oregon warned that patchy blowing snow could lead to a reduction in visibility, and that a section of the 5 freeway was closed.
Chains and how to use them, bring them. Bring an emergency kit that includes warm clothes, snacks and water in case you are delayed. The Department of Transport in Oregon recommends making sure your car is ready with good tires and working blades.
Oklahoma Department of Public Works Deputy Chief Dan Munsey (RV 711) reported snow at Mountain High Ski Resort in the Southern Plains
In Oklahoma, the storm ripped roofs off homes, flipped cars, downed trees, littered neighborhoods with debris. So far, as many as twelve people have been reported injured in Oklahoma from the storms.
More than140 storm reports were made across the Southern Plains on Sunday, with most of them coming from Texas and Oklahoma. This also includes 14 hail reports in those states, with several hailstones reportedly 1.75 inches in diameter.
Weather experts will work to determine whether the system can be classified as a derecho, a widespread, long-lived windstorm, which typically causes damage in one direction across a relatively straight path.
The Mountain High Ski Resort, located in the San Gabriel mountains about an 80-mile drive northeast of Los Angeles, recorded 93 inches of snow. Other high-elevation areas saw more than 5 feet of heavy snow and are still digging out.
San Bernadino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey said at a news conference that by Wednesday evening they had performed almost 100 rescues, though they had not received any serious injuries or deaths.
“We’re responding to medical calls. We’re responding to fires in these trapped vehicles. We are going to people’s houses where they’ve had trees through their houses or some sort of roof collapse and we are evacuating them to our evacuation shelters,” Munsey said.
State Emergency Services in the San Bernardino Mountains after a Snowfall Decelerated by the Governor’s Selectman’s Office of Emergency Services
A significant number of state personnel had responded to support San Bernardino County, which was declared a state of emergency by the governor late Wednesday.
It could take a week to 10 days to dig out the mountain communities hampered by the heavy snow, officials warned in a news conference Wednesday. Mountain residents were still unable to access roads Wednesday, per fire department spokesperson Eric Sherwin. The public works director said that the county had about 500 miles of tight, winding roads in the mountain areas that needed to be worked on.
The office of emergency services in the county that includes the Sierra Nevada reported up to 12 feet of snow near China Peak leading to the closing of Highway 168.
A late-February blast of arctic air produced a rare blizzard east of Los Angeles in the San Bernardino Mountains, where thousands of people live at high elevations in forest communities or visit for year-round recreation.
By last weekend, all highways leading up into the mountains were closed and have opened intermittently since then to residents and convoys of trucks loaded with food or other supplies.
Previously the outlook for stranded residents ranged from two weeks to a month.
He told a press conference that the state’s efforts and the equipment they are receiving will lead to a drop in the time needed for it to leave.
The sheriff and other officials said progress has been made, but they described severe conditions that, for example, have forced firefighters to reach emergency scenes such as fires in snowcats.
“It’s hard to comprehend how big of a deal this is,” said state Assemblyman Tom Lackey. We are thinking we are in Southern California, but we have had an onslaught that has created a lot of anxiety, frustration and trouble for the people trapped in their homes.
Some California mountain residents could be buried in for another week, according to the County Sheriff’s office: The Snow plow has fallen off a sidewalk in Crestline, California
Some residents of Mono City have been without power since the beginning of the week, according to the Mono County Sheriff’s Office. In the northern part of the state, mountain communities grappling with the conditions have smaller populations and are more accustomed to significant snowfall.
Shelah Riggs lives on a street in Crestline that has not seen a snow plow in eight days, leaving people with nowhere to go. Typically, a plow comes every day or two when it snows, she said.
People are working to keep the snow and ice off the decks to prevent collapse, and to make sure the gas vents are kept clear, according to a woman who lives with her daughter.
According to Devine Horvath, it takes her and her son 30 minutes to walk down the road to check on a neighbor.
Horvath was fortunate to make it to the grocery store before its roof collapsed, but hadn’t been able to leave her street since.
“We’re going to dig you out and we are coming,” Dicus said. “We are making tremendous progress. I saw this from the air yesterday. The roads are being cleared.”
The removal of the tremendous depths of snow required front-end loader and dump trucks instead of regular plows according to officials.
California Department of Transportation official Jim Rogers said crews working 24-hour shifts have removed more than 2.6 million cubic yards (1.9 million cubic meters) of snow from state highways.
Officials said it was difficult to reopen smaller roads due to buried vehicles and downed power lines. Residents were urged to somehow mark the locations of cars.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/04/1161119770/some-california-mountain-residents-could-be-snowed-in-for-another-week
The San Bernardino Mountains: Snowcats, Snowmumps, and Wildland. A Los Alamos Unravelo
More snowcats were being brought in, along with a California National Guard crew that normally works with the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force on wildfires. The crew is going to shovel snow.
Some 80,000 people live in the San Bernardino Mountains. The county has not estimated how many people are currently in the mountains because many residences are vacation homes or rentals.
